Raising Medical Benefits Remains Priority After End-of-Session Confusion
We were close. In the waning days of the legislative session in Albany, we were working hard to ensure passage of a bill that would raise short-term medical benefits for the first time since 1989. Unfortunately, in the chaos of the final hours of a hectic legislative session, time simply ran out on our opportunity to raise the program’s current $170 weekly cap on wage replacements to more than $1,150, which would have aligned with New York State’s Paid Family Leave (PFL) benefit.
We refuse to give up. Our work will continue when we return to Albany because New Yorkers deserve better. They are demanding action to make our state more affordable. A recent Siena College poll revealed that 51% of voters believe the legislative session in Albany failed to pass laws improving the quality of life. With costs soaring, we must act now. One critical step is passing temporary disability insurance because it will provide essential support to workers during times of need, ensuring they don’t have to compromise their financial stability or health.
The reality is, the system of benefits that is meant to create a safety net when you fall ill, have a baby, or get injured off the job, has a tear in it. In New York, if you are the person caring for someone who is sick, injured, or recovering, your wages are replaced through the PFL program with a cap or more than $1,150. But if you are the sick, injured, or recovering person, your wages are replaced under the paltry $170 per week cap.
It simply doesn’t make sense. It is leaving far too many of our most vulnerable families without the security these programs are meant to provide. In fact, it disproportionately impacts women before and after birth who make up more than 30% of medical benefit recipients.
Paid Family Leave was enacted with the goal of providing women recovering from childbirth and caring for their newborn with as much as 20 weeks of paid leave by combining short-term medical leave with Paid Family Leave.
Regrettably, when we’re capping wage replacement for those first six to eight weeks at $170 per week, far too many women must choose between caring for themselves and their child and returning to work quickly so they can pay rent and put food on the table. For women who give birth to a stillborn, the higher wages under PFL are simply not attainable, a fix easily made by aligning the benefits under these two programs. These women and their families need our support as they suffer through the emotional distress of losing a child and the physical pain of recovering from delivery.
The legislation under consideration in the final days of session would have implemented this increase over four years starting in 2026. This timeline for implementation and phased-in approach is balanced and intentional. It provides time for businesses and employees alike to prepare for the change, mitigating its impact. In raising the benefit, we’ll help our businesses compete for the best talent – New York has fallen behind 12 other states with similar laws and there are four more set to join the pack in 2026.
We need to pass this legislation as soon as possible. Women shouldn’t have to choose between taking time off and staying healthy. Women should not have to choose between life and death. We promise New Yorkers that we will keep working together to pass this bill and send it to Governor Kathy Hochul for her signature. We must mend this tear in our safety net and deliver impactful results to New Yorkers that make it easier to call the Empire State home.
Jessica Ramos is the State Senator for the 13th Senate District in Queens County. Michaelle C. Solages is the Assembly Member for the 22nd Assembly District in Nassau County.
